Officials identify 12-year-old shot dead on Cleveland's east side

CLEVELAND - A 12-year-old boy was shot and killed after being caught in gunfire that also left five teens in the hospital on Friday evening.

Around 7:30 p.m., a group of teens were walking on the sidewalk on Buckeye Road, near East 116th Street. According to Cleveland police, they were appraoched by 3-4 males who produced handguns and began firing at the teens.

The shots got the attention of a nearby shop owner and his 12-year-old son, Abdel Latif Bashiti, who both came outside to investigate. When more shots were fired, the two retreated back into the store, where they discovered the 12-year-old had been struck by a bullet in the torso.

Abdel was later pronounced dead at the scene.

The father was uninjured.

The five teens who were shot and taken to University Hospitals, where one remains confined with a gunshot wound to the head.

There have been no arrests, but police say the suspects were wearing black or darkly-colored hoodies and are also likely juveniles.

A vigil is being organized by several community groups to be held at the intersection of Buckeye Road and East 116th Street. The group will gather there at 6 p.m. tonight.

Anyone with information is asked to call Cleveland Police at 216-623-5464.